Inductively Driven Pellet Accelerator for Fusion Reactor Disruption Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional micro-particle accelerators and injectors for fusion reactors face limitations such as slow response times, limited velocity, and interference with magnetic fields, making them unsuitable for rapid plasma disruption mitigation in large fusion machines like ITER.
Innovation Solution
An inductively driven Pellet Accelerator and Injector device using electromagnets to generate contactless secondary currents, accelerating solid pellets to high velocities without mechanical valves, allowing for rapid injection of impurities into the plasma core to quench instabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If pneumatic drives are used to inject solid pellets, then the system is simple and reliable, but the response time is slow and velocity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pneumatic drive system with an electromagnetic acceleration system. Electromagnets generate magnetic fields that exert forces on conducting pellets, enabling rapid acceleration to high velocities without the mechanical limitations of pneumatic systems. This substitution eliminates mechanical valves and compressors, achieving both high speed and fast response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the acceleration mechanism from pressure-driven (pneumatic) to field-driven (electromagnetic). By controlling magnetic field strength and duration, the system can adjust pellet velocity and injection timing independently, achieving both high velocity and fast response time without the coupled limitations of pneumatic systems.
2Loss of time
If electromagnetic acceleration is used, then velocity and response time are improved, but the system becomes complex and may interfere with magnetic fields
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electromagnetic acceleration system into modular components: multiple electromagnets arranged along the injection path, each capable of independent control. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high velocity and fast response time while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized, repeatable modules that can be configured for different applications.
3Speed
If current carrying rails are used for electromagnetic acceleration, then acceleration is achieved, but moving electrical contacts cause erosion and reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the contact-based electromagnetic acceleration system (current carrying rails) with a non-contact inductive coupling system. Electromagnets generate magnetic fields that induce currents in the pellets without physical contact, eliminating electrode erosion and contact reliability issues while maintaining the ability to accelerate pellets to high velocities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid deposition of solid impurities into the plasma core, effectively quenching instabilities and preventing reactor damage with higher velocities and faster response times compared to conventional pneumatic methods.
Implementation Method 1
the time varying current flowing through the electromagnet creates the time varying axial magnetic field that induces an electric potential on the cartridge placed within it, in a contactless way resulting a secondary current to flow circumferentially on skin of the conducting cartridge
Implementation Method 2
the secondary current density on the cartridge and the radial magnetic field of the electromagnet together generate an electromagnetic force, Fz, that accelerates the cartridge loaded with pellets within it
Data Source
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AI summary
The Inductively driven Pellet Accelerator and Injector device described herein, is a modular electromagnetic accelerator configured to accelerate a cartridge (103), loaded with pellets of solid material. Each module uses an electromagnet (100) powered by an energy bank. The acceleration results due to time-varying magnetic fields (Br) produced and secondary currents (Isec) induced on the cartridge (103) in a non-contact way by the electromagnets (100). The cartridge off-loads the pellets into a target system or onto a substrate while itself getting discarded.